Virginia Tech isn't back to the ranked team it was a few weeks ago prior to the Pittsburgh loss, but the Hokies are making progress.

After dispatching of Bowling Green 37-0 Saturday, Virginia Tech turns its attention to playing Cincinnati Saturday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. The last time the Hokies played there, they fell to Boise State in their season opener in 2010.

Coach Frank Beamer reflected on a few areas against Bowling Green like the running backs and talked about the Bearcats on today's weekly ACC teleconference. Below is the transcript, followed by the audio link.

Beamer: I tell you that Cincinnati crowd is a really good football team. Offensively, defensively, very athletic and very, very good. We certainly have our work cut out for us. They pounded Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh pounded us, so we're in that situation.

I wanted to ask, we saw Tony (Gregory) go to the training room to get that sleeve because of the wet grass. What do you tell a guy like that that's been through so many knee injuries about kind of taking care of himself?

Beamer: Well, he just runs extremely hard and extremely fast. I don't think you can play the game cautious. You've got to play the game full tilt, so that's the kind of guy that he is.

What's it like for him? He's had the three ACLs, two while he's been there with you. What's it been like watching him fight back each time?

Beamer: Well, he's just such a fighter and such a positive guy that you're pulling for him. There is no question about that.

Talk about the Cincinnati Bearcats. They play in the Big East, and took on the Panthers a couple weeks ago. You had a hard time against the Panthers. What do you see in the Bearcats video this week?

Beamer: I see an excellent football team. Their quarterback is completing 61.8% of his passes. He's athletic. Had the long run, a couple of them against Pittsburgh. You've got to defend him. I think they're leading the Big East in rushing yards. Got a couple of guys there in Abernathy that presents problems. Then you look at their defense in 8.5 points a game, third nationally. They are active, led the country in sacks or tackle for losses, something like that. You see on the video how they do that and they get after you. They're very impressive.

Talk about being the visitors, but technically you're actually the visiting hometeam. Basically is that a big facet for you knowing it is technically a home game in Cincinnati but more or less it's going to be a Hokie crowd?

Beamer: I don't know who is home and away. I don't know if that makes any difference. I think how you play on the field will determine the ballgame.

The online depth chart looked like it was updated to have Ronny Vandyke as the top whip linebacker. What have you seen out of him progressing over the first couple of weeks? Do you think he'll start on Saturday?

Beamer: Yeah, he brings a little more quickness to the position. He's been coming along. I think that's the biggest thing. G.W. (Jeron Gouveia-Winslow)is a very smart guy. He knows the game, knows where he needs to be. But I think Ronny brings a little more quickness to that position.

Do you think Vandyke will start Saturday?

Beamer: Yeah, I think Vandyke will be the first whip on the field, yeah.

Coach you got to play a few guys last week. I just wondered, two young tailbacks, (J.C.) Coleman and (Martin) Scales got to play. What do they bring to the position? Are they guys that figure in your plans big time coming up?

Beamer: Well, you've got Coleman and (Michael) Holmes. And Holmes is a red-shirt freshman and Coleman is a true freshman. So they continue to grow and learn and mature. And Scales is a guy that's been around here for a while, downhill runner, got some real toughness. And (Tony) Gregory is the speed guy. So you have four guys there that all of them do something a little bit different.

Do you expect to continue to play a big rotation at that position then?

Beamer: Yeah, we're starting it this week. We'll determine it here later on.

You were talking last week about Brooks Abbott being your kickoff guy and taking his redshirt off. But how much is he really pushing Cody Journell, if at all?

Beamer: I think he's our second field goal guy. He gets the ball up with good height. He's been fairly accurate. But Cody is our field goal guy.

Was that a tough decision to take that redshirt off Brooks and have him be your kickoff guy?

Beamer: The phase of the game is important, and you want your best people or the guys that you feel are the best out there. So that was our thought process on that deal.